Chapter 28: Seriously?

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Translator: Soafp

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“……I'm home”

My small voice echoes in the entrance hall.

The quiet at home is the most serene I've experienced today.

Compared to the earlier chaos, especially from the club, this calm feels almost endearing.

The three small cranes I made (my own handiwork) do a little to alleviate the loneliness.

“Feels so lonely……”

I can’t help but let it slip.

My parents are working overseas.

My younger sister went with them, but since I was already enrolled in high school here, I decided to live alone.

My parents agreed, and they got me a pretty good place to live.

I still haven't gotten used to this apartment. But now, with my current hobbies, maybe I'm starting to like the cluttered room.

“……I'll make a shopping list.”

Tonight's dinner will be curry.

Authentic Indian curry. That means a lot of spices are needed.

But since the amount I use at once is quite small…… my miscellaneous items are increasing again.

It's fine since no one will scold me!

I'm finally getting out of the pre-made meal rut.

---

“……Looks about right.”

I've gathered all the spices on the list.

I managed to buy vegetables and everything else, so it's time to head back—

But then.

“……Oh.”

I found myself picking up bottled spring water I'd never seen before.

“I didn't know they had these here.”

I tossed a tired-looking, unsold cup of instant noodles (cheesecake flavor) into my cart.

“I thought these were only available online……”

I also found some rare coffee beans.

---

“I spent more than I thought……”

The shopping bags were about twice as full as I expected.

I came just to buy curry ingredients!

“……”

But.

As I made these unnecessary purchases, the loneliness I felt earlier had disappeared.

I realized something in these past two days.

It's okay to start a “hobby” with just a casual attitude.

“Whoa.”

While walking only on the white lines of the crosswalk, I thought about this.

I'm not sure if this counts as a hobby, but what's important is enjoying it.

The long, long weekend is coming to an end with the sunset.

It's sad.

……No, it's not.

Next week and the week after will be just like this one.

It feels like such a happy thing.

I've never felt this way before.

Since earlier.

Something is itching at me, and I can't help it—

“Oh, I need to check on the ant farm—”

I almost walked right past the park on my way back from the supermarket.

That was close—

“――Rainbow-colored Onii-san!”

“!?”

As I stopped at the entrance of the park, I heard a familiar child's voice.

“Wow!”

“Whoa…… what? Huh?”

She ran up to me.

I can't keep up with what's happening.

Wait, is that Kanon-chan?

That means—

“Waa! Waa—! We met again!”

“Good evening.”

Kisaragi-san and Hatsune-san were there, as if it were the most natural thing.

Hatsune-san's reaction seemed especially enthusiastic.

“H-hello……?”

On a Sunday evening.

Another unexpected encounter.

---

“Well, I’m just about to go home now.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Sorry about Kanon.”

“Waaah!”

“It's, um, fine.”

Kisaragi-san apologizes while holding Kanon-chan close to her chest.

“So, what are you doing at the park? With all that luggage, it's not for monkey bars or something, right?”

“Ah, I was thinking of looking for ants… to catch them. Sort of like an inspection.”

“?”

“……?”

“Ants!”

My two classmates tilt their heads in confusion. The third one… well, that's understandable.

But this isn't a joke. It's a hobby (proud face).

…Still, it would be nerve-wracking if they saw me just observing the park. It's a good thing I was about to leave—

“—Really?”

“Eh?”

Hatsune-san gives me a mischievous smile.

At this rate, I might end up looking like a stalker to my classmates (RIP).

Alright then, I'll show them this ant-raising kit for 2999 yen.

I show my smartphone with the Amazon purchase history to Hatsune-san.

“…This is an ant-farming kit.”

“Wow!”

She reacts dramatically when she sees it on the screen.

It's tough when people are put off by your interests.

But ant-farming is quite deep.

First, you need to catch a queen ant, which is already difficult.

There are various methods, but… you have to start by finding a place with a lot of ant nests.

“Since it's May. It's called the nuptial flight, where the queen ants come down to the ground after mating.”

“…Hoee~.”

“…”

“You can catch the queen ant that comes down, but there's also a method to catch the female ants in the nest. So I was thinking if there might be a nest in this park… and came to check, yes… (talking fast)”

It felt really awkward talking.

What am I even saying to these girls from my class?

Thinking about it calmly, it seems pretty strange.

“Ants are here~!!”

“!”

Kanon-chan, who had been quiet, finds an ant trail and crouches on the ground.

…Is she an angel? (happy to death).

I hurried over to help.

Looking closely, the ants were busily carrying food into their nest.

“Oh… this is definitely an ant nest.”

“Yay! Praise me!”

Kids are really honest.

That's why they shine so brightly.

“Thank you. You did great, Kanon-chan.”

“Waaah!”

As we crouch in front of the ant nest, suddenly she stands up.

And then, a jolt to my back. Her hands wrap around my neck.

“Piggyback ride!”

“Huh?”

“Wait, Kanon!”

“Ahaha~, well, why not?”

“Rainbow-colored!”

“…W-What should I do?”

I can't help but use honorifics.

I'm carrying a super-beautiful little sister on my back.

…Should I just stand here and die? (Be strong like Benkei).

“Just take her home like this~!”

“No, no, that's not right—wait.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, Kanon, could it be…”

“…Suu…”

On my back. The small girl is already fast asleep.

…Seriously?

Seriously?